The Niger chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Christians not to join the planned nationwide protest scheduled for Aug.1 to 10.
This was contained in a message to Christians in the state signed by Bishop Bulus Yohanna, chairman of CAN, in the state.
The message was read in the churches across the state on Sunday, July 28, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Yohanna said: “Genuine protest can easily be seized by hoodlums and selfish groups to cause enormous havoc on innocent citizens.
“Let us shun protest, violence has never yielded positive results.”
Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, enjoined church leaders, local government coordinators and parents to admonish their members and children to shun any planned protest in the interest of peace.
He charged them to remember the book of Romans 13:1-3 which talks about Christians not to rebel against constituted authorities.
“As you are aware, there are plans to stage a nationwide protest across the country.
“As Children of God and responsible people known for peace, I urge us all to shun the protest, speak to our children/wards and members of our congregation,” he said.
He said that other well-meaning Nigerians, including the youths, had declared that they would not join the nationwide protest.
“I want us to note that as a body, the CAN, Niger state will not be part of the exercise but rather prefer to have peaceful dialogue and continue to pray for our nation,” he said.
“Peaceful protest with clear demands is good but such could be hijacked by miscreants and be perceived by security as threat which can lead to arrests/shootings.
“There is no time that violence had led to positive results, rather it has caused destructions, loss of lives and setbacks,” said Yohanna.
He said that major stakeholders in Niger state had agreed not to join the protest.
The Bishop, however, urged governments at all levels to shun corruption, ethnic and religious bigotry.